This study discloses Swedish human service organizations and their methods of integrating unaccompanied children into the Swedish society. The purpose of the study is to investigate how social workers at HVB-homes for unaccompanied children depict their experience in and knowledge of how the unaccompanied children are integrated into Swedish society. The method of investigating the questions raised by the purpose of this thesis has been qualitative analysis of answers derived from interviewing personnel at HVB-homes for unaccompanied children. In doing so we have made use of a semi-structured method of interviewing the above-mentioned personnel. The data derived from these interviews has thereafter been analysed and filtered through the concept of integration and the theoretical formations human service organizations and street-level bureaucrats. A result shown in this thesis is that personnel at the HVB-homes strive towards integrating the unaccompanied children into society. The personnel has, however, experienced problems in describing the integration process, since they feel that they lack in understanding of the concept of integration. The HVB-homes have different methods of integrating the children and they feel confident in their approaches, as they perceive that the children are well integrated into society. The personnel describe numerous factors both promoting and obstructive, which affect each other and influence the integration of the unaccompanied children.

Why was the United States caught completely unprepared for the Central American refugee crisis during the summer of 2014? Although thousands of unaccompanied children from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador streamed across the southwest U.S. border in unprecedented numbers, the systemic problems plaguing the region stem back decades, and recent data clearly shows a trend of increasing yearly migration flows to the United States from these countries. Even in the face of the crisis, the U.S. government’s response was targeted more towards mitigating the symptoms of the crisis while insufficiently addressing its underlying causes. This is largely due to U.S. domestic policy, which undermines and conflicts with sound foreign policy. By focusing attention and resources on domestically popular foreign aid programs—primarily security initiatives and drug interdiction—rather than on programs to address the underlying, systemic causes of the crisis, like rampant corruption, lack of rule of law, and extreme poverty, U.S. policy-makers worked against their own best interests. As a result, the number of migrants crossing the U.S. southwestern border is once again rising rapidly. U.S. domestic and foreign policy must be reconciled to ensure that now and in the future, the root causes of migration crises are dealt with once and for all.

<p>The purpose of this study is to see what obstacles and opportunities the staff on a residence for unaccompanied children experience when trying to integrate these children into the Swedish society. I was also interested in how the integration of these children worked.</p><p> </p><p>I have interviewed the staff with a qualitative method. The result was analyzed with the help of Diaz integration theory and Bauman´s theory "us and them", and also with the previous research in the subject.</p><p> </p><p>My conclusion is that integration is a complicated concept that is experienced and interpreted individually. There are both obstacles and opportunities in the work with the integration of unaccompanied children. The result shows me that the schools’ role and the legal guardians function should have been better planned and framed from the start. The asylumprocess takes a lot of time and energy from the children and they react in different ways. These children have a huge need of trust which also relate to the asylumprocess. Generally speaking, the treatment from the local community and the authorities has been good.</p><p> </p><p>I choose to call this study "Between two worlds" because that is where the children find themselves.</p>

The purpose of this study is to see what obstacles and opportunities the staff on a residence for unaccompanied children experience when trying to integrate these children into the Swedish society. I was also interested in how the integration of these children worked.   I have interviewed the staff with a qualitative method. The result was analyzed with the help of Diaz integration theory and Bauman´s theory "us and them", and also with the previous research in the subject.   My conclusion is that integration is a complicated concept that is experienced and interpreted individually. There are both obstacles and opportunities in the work with the integration of unaccompanied children. The result shows me that the schools’ role and the legal guardians function should have been better planned and framed from the start. The asylumprocess takes a lot of time and energy from the children and they react in different ways. These children have a huge need of trust which also relate to the asylumprocess. Generally speaking, the treatment from the local community and the authorities has been good.   I choose to call this study "Between two worlds" because that is where the children find themselves.

Thesis advisor: Thomas M. Crea / Unaccompanied children have arrived at the US border in increasing numbers since 2012, reaching a peak of 59,692 children apprehended at the US border in 2016. This dissertation includes three studies to better understand the characteristics of integration as experienced by unaccompanied children who arrive to the US. The first study examines rates of PTSD in a sample of unaccompanied children receiving post release services. This study also includes a confirmatory factor analysis to examine the theoretical structure of the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS). The second study examines factors associated with adversity experienced by unaccompanied children who are exiting a long term foster care program. The third study examines factors associated with employment outcomes for unaccompanied children exiting the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) federal foster care program. Together, the three studies comprise an exploratory dissertation that sheds light on the characteristics of two primary features of immigrant integration, namely mental health and employment. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2019. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

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I samband med tillströmningen av flyktingar till Sverige har det uppmärksammats att mottagningssystemet av ensamkommande barn och unga präglas av olika brister. Syftet med denna studie är att ur ett personalperspektiv undersöka hur socialtjänstens mottagande fungerar samt vilka förbättringar som önskas. Detta har studerats med hjälp av barnperspektivet som har utgångspunkt i barndomssociologin. Utifrån fyra intervjuer med socialarbetare framkommer att mottagningssystemet upplevts bristfälligt men att förbättringar på olika nivåer upplevs som genomförbara. Resultatet visar på en önskan om bättre samverkan mellan myndigheter och en förbättrad organisatorisk ledning. Vidare betonas ett behov av mer tid och resurser för att kunna utföra noggrannare utredningar som grundas på barnets bästa och där barnets rättigheter tillvaratas. En mer anpassad metod och tydligare riktlinjer efterfrågas där barnen ges likvärdiga möjligheter samtidigt som dess individuella behov beaktas. Inför framtiden önskas bättre beredskap och bredare kunskap för att möjliggöra ett kvalitetssäkert mottagande oberoende av yttre omständigheter. / In association with the influx of refugees into Sweden, it has been noticed that the reception system of unaccompanied children is characterized by various deficiencies. The purpose of this study is to examine, from a staff perspective, how the reception system within the Swedish social services works, and what improvements are requested. This has been studied and analysed through utilising a child-perspective theory that embodies a part of childhood sociology. Four interviews with social workers show perceptions of the reception system as generally underperforming, although improvements at various levels are perceived achievable. The result also highlights requests for a better interaction among authorities, alongside an enhanced top-management commitment. Moreover, the staff expressed the need of more time and resources in order to carry out thorough investigations based on the child's best interests, in which the child's rights are safeguarded. Besides, a more customised method and clearer guidelines were demanded, where the children are given equal opportunities while taking their individual needs into account. For the future, a request for a better preparation and broaden knowledge was highlighted, which would enable a higher quality of reception’s performance in spite of external circumstances.

The present study explores how members of staff at HVB for unaccompanied minors experience their work tasks, their roles as care givers, and what they mean it takes to meet the needs of the children. The data consists of six semi-structured interviews conducted at three different HVB. The interviews were analysed using reports made by the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) and the health and Social Care Inspectorate (IVO), and theories about resilience from mental illness. Furthermore, the current paper draws on previous research on the needs of unaccompanied minors and on international professionals’ roles and work tasks. The results show that the staff’s main task is to meet some of the needs of the children as their need of security, support, stability and sense of belonging. Time, knowledge, personal suitability and formal training were emphasized as important characteristics in order for them to adequately respond to the children’s needs. / Denna kvalitativa studie undersöker hur personal - på hem för vård eller boende (HVB) för ensamkommande barn - upplever sina arbetsuppgifter, sin yrkesroll samt vad de menar behövs för att kunna bemöta barnens behov. Empirin består av 6 st semi-strukturerade intervjuer genomförda på 3 olika HVB. Intervjuerna har analyserats utifrån Socialstyrelsens och Inspektionen för vård och omsorgs (IVO´s) tidigare rapporter, forskning om ensamkommande barns behov, internationell personals roll och arbetsuppgifter samt teorier om vad som hjälper människor i återhämtning från psykisk ohälsa. Resultatet visar att personalens huvudsakliga arbetsuppgifter är att möta några av barnens behov, nämligen barnens behov av trygghet, vuxenstöd, vardaglig stabilitet och att känna sig hemma. För detta krävs tid och rätt kompetens. För att personalen ska kunna bemöta dessa behov framhölls personlig lämplighet, engagemang och formell kunskap som viktigt.

Unaccompanied children that arrives in Sweden are usually placed in homes for care and residence, called HVB. It is the municipality's responsibility to provide adequate care and protection for the children. The aim of the study is to examine how a workgroup on a HVB home for unaccompanied children is working to meet the needs of the children, and how the workgroup improves the children’s integration process. The study also aims to examine the emotional labour of the workgroup, which illustrates how they can manage their own emotional behavior when working with the unaccompanied children. The study is based on a qualitative approach with detailed descriptions of five semi-structured interviews with the workgroup and assistant managers. The study relieved that the workgroup of the HVB home are able to cater to the individual needs of the unaccompanied children based on difficulties and their past experience. The result shows that the professional approach of the workgroup differs when working with the unaccompanied children’s needs and integration process. The results also relieved that the overall goal of the studied HVB home – to make the unaccompanied children completely independent and responsible young adults, is not completely fulfilled. In order to further improve the children's development in their new environment, previous studies have found that it is important to not only understand the importance of a professional approach but also to collaborate with others. This in order to contribute to the children’s development in the new society.

Previous studies have shown that activity loss in unaccompanied refugee children is common. During the asylum process, inactivity, uncertainty and anxiety disorders, which may occur after trauma, can result in passivity. Unaccompanied refugee children are, according to the UN, children and young people under 18 years of age who have fled from their home country without an accompanying parent or guardian. The purpose of this study was to describe different activities and their significance for unaccompanied refugee children. The method used was a literature review. Data collection was done through literature searches in different databases PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science and Google Scholar and a manual search through reference lists. The search resulted in 18 relevant scientific articles, and was limited to articles that were no more than 11 years old and written in English or Swedish. The result from the analysis gave three main categories which are: 'Structure in everyday life gives a good feeling', 'Activities for pleasure can increase participation', 'School as support for finding new roles'. The result showed the importance of activities for unaccompanied refugee children, as they were perceived to have a positive impact on health and to give more energy and recovery. It also emerged that activities contributed to participation, balance and better health. The results showed the importance of activity for unaccompanied refugee children. Conclusions to be drawn from this study is to make the needed support visible for the refugee children in terms of activity training and that the creation of meaningful activities and that these may prevent or reduce loss of activity. Further research on activity needs  for unaccompanied refugee children is needed, to highlight and develop what occupational therapists  can contribute with in form of using the activity as a goal and means to facilitate the unaccompanied refugee children in their situation.